Being in the music industry can be tough in many different ways, sometimes it can be tough financially. A career in music doesn’t always offer a steady income. And what are you supposed to do if you begin to struggle with mental or physical health issues or age-related problems? How are you supposed to make ends meet if you need to take some time away from music and focus on your health. And how are you supposed to pay the medical bills you acquire while focusing on your health?
Singer-songwriter, Victoria Williams, found out she had multiple sclerosis after dropping off a tour with Neil Young mid-schedule due to her debilitating symptoms. Unaware of how she would pay for her medical debt, her friends assembled an album of Victoria’s songs titled “Sweet Relief.” The album was a hit and once she paid her debts, Victoria used some of the proceeds to found Sweet Relief Musicians Fund, a non-profit providing emergency financial assistance to those in the music industry who are unable to work due to disability.
Sweet Relief provides assistance to any applicant in the U.S. or Canada that makes their living in any position in the music industry. The fund goes to any medical or vital living expenses and is paid directly to medical providers, hospitals and other third party entities.
The unique thing about Sweet Relief Musicians Fund is that they offer so many different types of funds to donate to, 46 in total. You can choose to donate by region, artist, music genre, etc. I think this distinctive way of categorizing donations helps personalize the donations more, as it gives the donor the opportunity to show what their values are. A donor willing to give money to the Pacific Northwest Fund really cares about their community. A donor willing to give money to the Jazz Fund is really passionate about jazz. A donor willing to give money to the Mental Health Fund, may have experience with or know of someone who struggles with mental health and is very empathetic to that cause. However, all of the donors and the recipients share a love for music, and that is such a special thing.
If you want to help, Sweet Relief makes supporting the cause accessible for just about anyone. You can support the cause by attending events they throw, throwing a benefit show, creating a school fundraiser like a battle of the bands, donating a design for t-shirts, selling products on ebay, giving a portion of profits from your business, sharing a fundraiser on Facebook or Instagram, becoming an ambassador or intern, or just spreading the word. You can even buy merchandise through them as they sell mugs, tote bags, hats, candles, and clothes and honestly, I think the clothes are very stylish.
Sweet Relief also does campaigns that offer incentive for donations. Recently, they offered donors the opportunity to be entered into a raffle for an all expenses paid trip to see internationally-recognized singer-songwriter, LP, at their show in Austin, Texas. They also included guest passes, access to soundcheck, a hangout with LP pre-show, and a signed ukulele. Prior to that, they offered a chance to win a Fender guitar signed by Pearl Jam, and a Bahamas Vacation with Midland.
Many famous musicians we know and love have supported the cause. In fact, there are hundreds of musicians like Ed Sheeran, Tool, Maroon 5, Macklemore, Billie Eilish and Luke Bryan to name a few. Some musicians like Gregory Alan Isakov and Social Distortion are even participating in their Add-A-Buck program, adding an extra small amount to their ticket sales and/or merchandise sales to be donated to the fund.
I really do think Sweet Relief does amazing and essential work for the music industry. In my blog, I discuss up and coming bands and musicians in the Pacific Northwest and some of these bands and musicians do not make enough to support themselves solely with their music where they are right now and if they do, they do not make enough to account for the possibility of future mental or physical health problems. If there were not programs like this, some musicians would never even take the chance to fulfill their potential and their dreams would stay just dreams forever. I am grateful for programs like these, because without them we may not have all of the music we have to enjoy today.
To learn more about Sweet Relief Musicians Fund or to donate please visit SWEETRELIEF.ORG or text SWEETRELIEF to 54-555.
PNW music recommendation of the week:
Picture Credits:
All other images acquired from Sweet Relief Musicians Fund Press Kit
Emma Wright-Cloutier 
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